Summit League Preview: Coyote Women at Fort Wayne, IUPUI

With a win streak that's reached an even dozen, South Dakota looks to put the finishing touches on a second straight Summit League women's basketball regular season championship, as they head into the final week of the conference schedule.

The Coyotes (22-5/13-1) close out the regular season with a pair on the road, starting Thursday night in Fort Wayne.

USD won the first meeting with the Mastodons, 92-60, in January. The Coyotes forced 20 turnovers in that game and blew open a close game with 60 percent shooting in the second quarter. South Dakota dominated the boards, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 36 second chance points.

IPFW (6-21/2-12) is in danger of missing the Summit League tournament. The Mastodons begin the week tried with North Dakota State for last in the conference standings. The team that finishes ninth does not come to Sioux Falls for the tourney.

Fort Wayne is last in the Summit League in field goal percentage, and next-to-last in scoring, rebounding, and opponents field goal percentage. Kamilah Carter is fifth in the conference in three-point shooting. Keanna Gary is sixth in rebounding.

Tipoff is 6:00 PM in Fort Wayne, Thursday night.

The Coyotes close out the regular season at IUPUI.

USD won the first meeting with the Jaguars, 65-59, in January. The defenses were stingy in this game as the two teams combined for 38 turnovers. Offensive rebounding was again the key for the Coyotes, who grabbed 13, and had a seven-point advantage on second chance points. The USD defense had a tough time containing Mikale Rogers, who was 7-of-10 from the floor for 17 points.

The Jaguars (19-8/10-4) are first in three-point defense, second in free throw shooting, and last in three-point shooting in the Summit League. Danielle Lawrence and Rogers are in the top ten in the conference in scoring. Rogers is eighth in rebounding. IUPUI's four Summit losses have all come by six points or less.

Tipoff is 6:00 PM in Indianapolis, Saturday night.

South Dakota swept their final two home games last week, beating Western Illinois, 86-50, and South Dakota State, 80-75.

Against the Leathernecks, the Coyotes shot 60 percent in the second quarter, including seven points in the period from Tia Hemiller and five points off the bench from Jasmine Trimboli.

The USD defense limited Western Illinois to 25 percent shooting, 21 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Coyotes won the battle inside, outscoring WIU 52-16 in the paint.

In Saturday's first place battle with the Jackrabbits, USD jumped out to quick six-point lead, then fell behind by six after having issues with turnovers in the first half. The Coyotes did rally for a one-point halftime lead.

In the second half, South Dakota's depth took over, as the USD bench accounted for 32 of the team's 80 points, with Abi Fogg and Kate Liveringhouse combining for 25 points. The Coyote defense limited SDSU's leading scorer, Macy Miller, to just two points thru the first three quarters.

I talked with USD head coach Amy Williams about last week's wins and this week's games with Fort Wayne and IUPUI: